Book Description

Never before have so many choices and so much information been available to women about life-style, health, family, legal rights, and their own history. Now The Women's Desk Reference, the first general reference book to address the broad spectrum of women's concerns, brings a kaleidoscope of information together for one-step access.

The Women's Desk Reference contains more than fifteen hundred alphabetically arranged entries, carefully researched and extensively cross-referenced, on a vast range of topics: laws and significant court decisions; medical techniques and treatments; social and psychological theories; key works of literature; organizations of, by, and for women; and recommended dietary allowances, recommendations for emotional and physical health, and exercises for pregnant women.

Numerous charts, illustrations, and highlighted boxes make this book easy to use, and up-to-the-minute help, information, and action guides on subjects such as child abuse, divorce, depression, and cancer steer readers to expert sources that can give them the kind of knowledge they need to be truly independent and resourceful.

Whether a woman wants to read about alternatives to hysterectomy, parental rights, or the history of abortion legislation in the U.S., or just wants a list of great books written by women, The Women's Desk Reference answers the need in concise entries, written in an empathetic yet unbiased style. It's a vital addition to every woman's bookshelf.

From Library Journal

Authors Frank and Brownstone have written other reference sources, such as The Green Encyclopedia ( LJ 11/15/92) and Dictionary of 20th-Century History ( LJ 8/90). Here they compile information on a broad range of topics of interest to women. Subjects range from legislation and social problems to health issues, history, and literature. The first section contains 1500 alphabetically arranged entries, which often have a list of books and agencies for additional information. Cross references, highlighted boxes with special information, and charts complement the text. Although the book is written "in the spirit of advocacy," entries appear to be objective and unbiased. The second section provides text to documents such as the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution, statistical charts, books by women, and a time line of women's history. While other books cover specific areas of women's studies, this wide-ranging tome provides basic and concise information on issues affecting both genders. Recommended for all academic and public libraries.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　- Mary Salony, West Virginia Northern Community Coll. Lib., Wheeling

From Booklist

This guide to the broad spectrum of women's concerns provides encyclopedic coverage of issues, personalities, and terms relating to women. Arranged from Abandonment through Zygote, articles use clear, matter-of-fact language. Many provide lengthy bibliographies and referral information to organizations concerned with the matters discussed. There are copious cross-references within articles as well as from varying forms of headings; for example, Abdominal Delivery refers the reader to Cesarean Section. Brief biographies of women (and men) important to the women's movement are included. Line drawings illustrate such entries as Pregnancy and Breast. Boxes include "Tips for Making Visitation Work" and "Tips for Preventing AIDS." Quotations from women add interest.

Appendixes include the declaration from the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention in 1848; the "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women," adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1979; statistics on women in political life, working women, and the world's women; an author-title list of 75 "books by women whose words have changed the world," prepared by the Women's National Book Association; and a time line of the fight for women's rights.

Although this title fills an important need, it has a few flaws. First, despite its A-Z organization and thorough cross-references, it needs an index. Second, there is no in-depth discussion of minority women's issues. Those attempting to find information on African American, Hispanic, or Asian American women's matters are referred to the article Feminism. This brief article does not deal with specific concerns of minorities. In the article Religion and Women's Rights, the authors provide only a superficial discussion of non-Christian religions. There are no articles on Islam or Judaism and no listings for such organizations associated with those religions.

With the caveats noted, The Women's Desk Reference is an appropriate choice for high school, public, and academic libraries. At least for now, it's the only game in town.